Revolutionary Persuasion: Thomas Paine’s Influential Rhetoric in Common Sense On January 10, 1776, an unknown English immigrant drastically altered the course of human events by publishing what has been referred to as the most influential pamphlet in American history. This man was Thomas Paine, and his pamphlet was titled Common Sense - two words which to this very day resonate as synonymous with American independence and freedom. Paine’s influential writing in Common Sense made an immediate impact on the minds and hearts of thousands of colonists throughout the densely populated eastern seaboard of North America, calling for an end to tyrannical British rule and for the subsequent foundation of an independent, egalitarian republic. Paine’s “hardnosed political logic demanded the creation of an American nation” (Rhetoric, np), and through his persuasive discourse he achieved just that. Paine’s knowledge and use of rhetorical skill was a main reason for the groundbreaking, widespread success of Common Sense, the magnitude of which, many would argue, has yet to be matched. Rhetoric is the art or science of persuasion and the ability to use language effectively. This paper will provide an in-depth analysis of Paine’s rhetoric in Common Sense by examining factors such as the historical time period, communicator attributes, and audience psychology, and will deliver a thorough application of contemporary modes of persuasive study to the document’s core ideological messages. To Paine, the cause of America was the cause of all mankind (Paine, 3), and for that matter he will be forever known as the father of the American Revolution. By the year 1776, tension between the American colonies and their British ruler was at a peak. Taxation without representation had fueled such rebellious acts as the Boston Tea Party, which prompted British parliament to pass the “Intolerable Acts.” It was becoming increasingly clear to the colonists that action had to be taken against such oppression, so each colony began its own small congressional body and many called their citizens to arms (Common, np). By the time Common Sense was published, small-scale warfare had been occurring for roughly nine months, with the battles of Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill being the most prominent. The question of independence was being strongly considered, though it was not altogether the sentiment of the majority at the time. The rebellious colonists, consumed by feelings of fear, anger, and betrayal (Ferguson, 472), understood that now was the time to act on the idea of separation; but they were still in need of some justification - something that would give them a reason for the war they were already fighting. That justification arrived in the form of Common Sense, in which Paine writes “The time hath found us”, and, “Courage hath not yet forsaken us… Why is it that we hesitate?” (Paine, 35). In his writing, Paine stressed the important role of the present moment, and encouraged that the colonists not delay in their pursuit for independence. Of the approximately 2.5 million individuals inhabiting the American colonies in 1776, it seemed that many were on the verge of all-out revolution, and Common Sense served to tip the scales. After living the majority of his young adult life pursuing various trades in England, Thomas Paine arrived in the American colonies in late 1774 via the helping hand of Benjamin Franklin, who saw promising intellect in the eager Paine. Soon after Paine had assimilated to life in the colonies, he obtained the occupation of journalist for the Pennsylvania Magazine. Shortly thereafter, he became highly interested and involved in the political situations of the times, and garnished a local reputation as an able, well-spoken, and knowledgeable writer. He was a pamphleteer in the opportune “age of pamphleteering”, and was able to perpetually transform political language as a result. Paine’s ability as a captivating communicator “…helped to explain how the widest range of readers could be pulled into Paine’s orbit, and identifies the birth of a distinctively American voice in politics” (Ferguson, 469). Tom Paine’s personality and experiences also go a long way when attempting to dissect his emotional and thought-provoking mechanisms in Common Sense. Growing up, Paine was disillusioned by the concept of monarchial governance and aristocracy, and some cite that this hostility toward hereditary structures may be a result of the dysfunctional relationship he had with his father. Quickly made apparent in Common Sense is the idea that “Paine was a person who delighted in the destruction of tyrants” (Jordan, 304). As a person, Tom Paine maintained a sincere disposition; he was a man of integrity, creativity, courage, charisma, and passion. These communicator attributes allowed him to gain much credibility and fame through his writing, though this rise to prominence came with time. The first edition of Common Sense was published anonymously, which displayed Paine’s humility in that he strove for the dissemination of the truth, not the acquisition of authority or social attractiveness. Paine’s wide array of experiences gave him many comparative frames of reference and the ability to understand current events on many different levels of thought (Ferguson, 477). Ultimately, Paine was a common man who could relate to the plight of the King’s restless subjects. He not only spoke their language, but conveyed their sentiments in a persuasively bold style. One key element evident in Paine’s writing is that he understood the psychology of his audience, which is essential to the art of persuasion. Paine was an author who knew many things about his various audiences (Ferguson, 471), and certainly used this to his advantage when structuring his profound arguments in Common Sense. The pamphlet is written to “The Inhabitants of America”, which consisted of a wide variety of people across numerous backgrounds, ethnicities, backgrounds, beliefs, and intellect. Paine’s ability to connect with such a diverse populace is truly remarkable; his ability to unite them toward a common cause even more amazing. In its simplest terms, Common Sense was written by a common man for the common man. At this point in American history, there were three basic types of people which made up the bulk of Paine’s audience: Patriots, Loyalists, and the conservatives, or those who were still on the fence about the idea of independence. The Patriots were, of course, those who were widely in favor of revolution; they were ready for an immediate change, hungry for independence, and were rapidly gaining in number. These colonists “were surely ready for a plea for separation” (Jordan, 299), and Paine provided just that, effectively reinforcing their attitudes and inspiring a greater urgency for the cause of independence. The Loyalists, or “Tories” as many an infuriated Patriot referred to them as, made up those members of the population who were still loyal to the throne of England. They held strong attitudes on this position, and were not easily swayed – to them, the King was the only authority, and their plan of action was that the American colonies must pursue reconciliation. Paine saw them in need of much convincing, as he strongly and ferociously questioned and attacked these absurd claims of reconciliation by countering Loyalist assertions with evidence to the contrary. The conservative folk were those who were considering the idea of independence but would rather submit their complacence to the King than jump on board the vessel of revolution (Morgan, 74). Paine approached their position of cognitive dissonance, or inconsistency of thought, with appeals to their guilt of conscience and fear of imminent danger (which will be analyzed more thoroughly in the latter sections of this paper) in order to “light a fire” under them, so to speak, and engage them in a transformative state of mind, inspiring revolutionary sentiments in support of a cause greater than oneself. With this knowledge of his target audiences’ psychological factors, Paine was able to gain the trust of his fellow colonists, which required a big leap of faith by many who knew that their freedom, and perhaps their very livelihood, was on the line. “We are already greater than the King wishes us to be…” says Paine (25). To Paine, this sort of inspiration and encouragement was crucial to unifying the people toward independence, and this assertion clearly demonstrates the faith that Paine had in his colonial audience, for without their support, Common Sense would not have been nearly as influential. An evaluation of the ideological proclamations, goals, aims, and sentiments contained within the message of Common Sense is first necessary before attempting to carry out a full rhetorical analysis of Paine’s discourse. Thomas Paine drafted and published Common Sense within thirteen months of his arrival in the New World, and within three months of its publication, his popular pamphlet had sold nearly 120,000 copies throughout the North American seaboard. In today’s terms, that would be the equivalent of roughly ten million copies (Jordan, 296). The popularity of Paine’s work stemmed not only from its content, but from the many methods of dissemination it encountered; the high rate of colonial literacy was key, and “Colonists read it aloud in a wide variety of settings” (Rhetoric, np). George Washington even had it distributed and read to his soldiers to boost morale. The main purpose of Common Sense was to inspire American independence from British rule, but in order to achieve this goal Paine had to draw upon many ideological sentiments and weighty arguments, and he had to back his claims with much evidence. Common Sense is split into four main sections. The first is titled “Of the Origin and Design of Government in General, With Concise Remarks on the English Constitution.” The second section is titled “Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession.” In these first two sections, Paine builds a strong foundation for American independence by providing the reader with logical reasons for the unjust, irrational, and evil tendencies of monarchial government.